Drying machine



March 1927' H. MORSHEAD ET AL DRYING MACHINE 7 Filed April 28. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES:

' INVENTOR:

Howard Marshead Vl gqyieawm'ih,

Harrz 1/.

March 8, 1927 H. MORSHEAD ET AL DRYING MACHINE Filed April 28.1924 :s Sheets-Sheet is INVENTOR. ifaward Marshaad A); Han Ii. vl yqlesworih,

WITNESSES:

ew. M. a, 1927.3

TUNITED *sTArs-s PATENT OFFICE.

n'owuui monsnnan Ann may a. WIGGLESWOB'IH, or irrmamsnrnm, 1 mmvama-assrcmons To run PHILADELPHIA mums mcmmmv comm, or rnmannnrnu, rnnnsvnvama, A'CORPQRATION or rmmsxnvma.

name momma.

Application filed A ril 2a, 1924. Serial No. 709,606.

'This invention relates to drying machines, and is more particularly directed to machines of the type adapted for the drying of knitted fabric articles upon appropriately configured formsv which are intermittently progressed through a; drying enclosure,-andsuccessively presented exteriorly thereof for tripp' g and replacement with a fresh article to be dried.

- More specifically, our invention has ref- 5 .erence to a drying machine-comprising an annular enclosure through which detached- -forms are progressed, in close radially disposed assembly, by means of an intermittently moved carrier, and associated means whereby said forms'are relatively separated when exterior tofthe-enclosure for stripping and reclothing.

An important object'of this inventlon' is to provide a compact drying machine ofthe above typified character, whereby considerable overhead and operating economy is effected, the output increased, and subsequent operations up to boxing of the dried ar-" companying sheets of drawings constituting.

ticles incidentally expedited.

Other objects and attendant advantages inhering' to our "invention will be later on referred to, or. become apparent from the following descriptionv of onepractical embodimentthereof, as illustrated by the aca part of this specification, wherein corresponding parts are designated by, like indices in all the several views. It 'is desired,

however, to state, atthe outset,'that our invention is not restricted to the details herein after described, nor to the \particular relative --arrangement and aggroupment herein shown, except=in so. far as these may be specified by 'thejsubjoined claims. In the drawings Fig. I, is a top plan .enclosure conventionally embodying our invention, with parts broken away and in section, to better disclose certain'underlying elements. 7 1 Fig.II, is a vertical section of the same taken approximately on a plane indicated by the arrowed line 'II-II in the precedingview.

Fig. III, is an enlarged plan view of the mechanism for relatively separating the ar-' whereof will on ticle-carrying formswhen exterior to the dry ng enclosure.

Fig. IV is a sectional elevation of the same'taken substantially on the line IVIV in Fig. III. Y Fig. V is a fragmentary-plan view of a slightly modified form of the mechanism shown by Figures III and IV. v Fig.'VI, is an elevation ofthesame.

Figs. VII, VIII andIX, are respectively -a' side, end, and plan views-of the means whereby individual article-carrying forms are supported and guided into, and out of,

the drying enclosure.

I Before describing" the specific devices con- I I stituting our invention, per se, it will be observed that the dr ing machineillustrated comprises a cylin rical enclosure, comprehensively designated by the numeral 10 provided with a roof 11 and diametrically opposed parallel vertical openings 12, 13 that afford ingress and egress for the series of plained.- It" is well-to note, at this juncture,

that the co-ligned conduits 15,16 are located 1n spaced relation from all angles with respect to the enclosure 10, thereby afiording an annulardrying space 19, and ample. clearance' for the free circulation of air with a looped directional arrows in Fig. H.

Preferably, though not essentially, within the lower conduit 16, we locate ,a fan 20 which rotates in. a horizontal plane, with I the shaft 21 thereofjournaledin' a vertical view of a dryingbearing 22 supported within said'conduit in any of the well known ways. Rotary motron is imparted-to the fan 20 by means of a bevel gear '23, secured. to the shaft 21, meshing with 'a eomplemental gear 24, on a radially. disposed counter-shaft 25, provided wit a pulley couple 26'for belt drive from any convenient line shaft-'.not shown. The counter-sharia 25 is also fittedwith a worm drive -27, the and function flow-as indicated by the Concentricall part of the enc osure 1.0 is an annular bank of pipes 28, through which heating medium is circulated in the well known manner;

supply and drip connections being fitted in connection therewith, but not shown as their location and function will be thoroughly understood by those acquainted with the art. 1

Referring, back again, to the form-carrying conveyor 18-wl1ich is pivotally mounted at the upper end of the vertical shaft 21 it will be remarked that it is substantially configured like unto an annular rack; thatis to say, the rim 29, thereof, is of angular crosssection, and formed with aseries of radially directed notches 30. The intervening lateral tooth-portions 31 of the angular rim 29 are reinforced by vertical webs 32, while the entering edges of the notches 30 are rounded-off at 33,as best shown in Fig. III.for a purpose hereafter explained. This conveyor 18, serves as a support and progressing instrumentality for the article-. carrying forms 14, each of which is mounted upon a somewhat elliptically configured base or shoe 34, fitted with a depending and securely attached pin 35. These bases or shoes 34 are conveniently made of metal with the pins 35 anchoredtherein during manufacture in any of the well known ways; and they are opposedly recessed to afford cavities 36 in which antifriction rollers 37 are journaled by means of countersunk studs 38, for

example. Each base or shoe 34 is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 39,- Figs. VII -IX and'a hinged leaf member 40, between which the article-carrying form 14 is clamped by means of bolts 41 having wing. nuts 42. .Thus it will be obvious that the forms 14 are removably mounted on the bases or shoes 34, ,with provision for expeditious change thereof, while it is further observable that each said form constitutes a detached carrier.

To afiord ingress and egress for the articlecarrying forms 14,14, into, and out of, the enclosure 10 aforesaid, we have provided the diametrically 'opposedand parallel spaced-openings 12,, 13 hereinbefore referred to, which respectively permit entry and exitto associated tracks 43, serving in i the capacity of opposed stations aa whereat successive forms 14, 14, are presented to operatives for stripping and boarding. At this juncture, attention is directed to the fact that while we have illustrated an embodimentof our invention which may be aptly described as compound in character, in that each station affords convenience for both operations of stripping and boardring, it is to be clearly understood that one T'siich station a may serve: for boarding and the other a'' for stripping. Furtherm re for sma l dryi g m chines emlocated within the lower comprises a pair of substantially U-shaped angle-sections affording c'o-planal horizontals 44, between which is a raceway 45 of a Width to freely accommodate the depending pins 35 on the form supporting bases or shoes 34, and vertical guide rails 46. As best shown in Figs. III and IV, it will be noted that the outer vertical guide rail 46 terminates in abutment with the drying enclosure wall at 47, whereas the horizontal portion thereof is extended and beveled to provide a tongue 48'closely overlying the outer edge of the annular rack portion of the form-carrying conveyor 18. Similarly the inner vertical guide rail 46 terminates in close relation with the outer perimetrical edge of the form-carrying conveyor 18, while the horizontal portion thereof is extended and beveled to afford a tongue 49 snugly overlapping the lateral tooth portions 31 of the form-carrying conveyor 18. These opposed tongues 48, 49 are suitably configured in plan and by virtue of their beveled-or chamfered longitudinal-section, ensure free entry and exit for the bases or shoes 34, to the track or guide 43; it being quite obvious that the anti-friction rollers 37 thereunder will smoothly ride, onto and off, said tongues without disturbing the equilibrium of the form 14 supported thereby.

Cooperatively associated with the formcarrying conveyor 18 and track 43, we arrange intermittently actuated mechanism IOU now to be described-which isfunctional to transfer each successive article-carrying form 14 from the rotary conveyor 18 onto said track, and progress same by graduated stages thereover. subsequently returning said'forms by similar movements back again to the conveyor 18 for passage through the drying enclosure 10, in closely associated radial relation. This intermittently actuated mechanism it is also to be particularly noted isv likewise functional to move the form-carrying conveyor 18 with a step-bystep directional progress about the pivot shaft 21 as hereafter fully, explained;

Before proceeding further, it is well to remark that the track 43 is mounted upon vertical standards 50, Fig. II,-conveniently of standard angle section-braced by similar sectlon transverse tiles 51 to ensure rigidity,

lit)

- and for the purpose of afiording support for certain instrumentalities now to be de scribed. p

Transversely of the drying machine, and journaled in bearings 52, mounted upon one of the ties 51 aforesaid, is a drive shaft 53, having a worm wheel 54 secured thereon in mesh with the worm 27 hereinbefore referred to. This drive shaft 53, is, in turn, adapted through a pinion and gear 55, 56 respectively to impart rotation to a counter-shaft 57 journaled in bearings '58, 58, mounted on a co-pla-nal pair of the ties 51; and on said counter-shaft we spline a wiper arm59 for intermittent revolution of a vertical shaft 60 through co-action with a four-armed cam device 61 secured thereon.- The vertical shaft 60 is journaled in 'abearing 62 and it is provided with a radially-armed spider 63, functional to-in partprogress the article-carrying forms 14 over the tracks 43, as will be, hereafter, fully explained. In addition the vertical shaft 60 is also fitted with a star wheel 64, with which engages an anti-fric tion roller .65, pivotally mounted at the conarm 70 is, in turn, fulcrumed to a vertical stub shaft 71 journaled in a bearing 72 secured on one of the aforesaid transverse ties 51, and itis fashionedwith an obliquely directed lateral limb 73 having vertical lugs 74, 74 affording slidable support for a pawl 75, radially projected outwards relative to a the fulcrum 71 of said lever arm under the action of a bufier spring 76 in the well known way. The one end (the upper with respect to. Fig. III) of the composite lever arm 70 is fitted with an extension finger 77 pivoted thereto at 78. said finger being under the action 'of a recoil'spring 79. A heel 80 on the finger 77 limits movement thereof in one direction; or,.normally holds said finger co-aligned with the lever arm 70. In some what similar manner the other end of the composite lever arm 70 is provided with a longitudinally movable plunger dog 81 under the action of a bufi'er spring 82 inaccordance with conventional practice.

A contractile spring 83connected at one end to a reinforcing rib 84 on the lever arm 7 O, and at its other end to a luglor eye-piece S5- -Fig. I-provided for the purpose on the lower conduit section 16, serves to normally retain said lever arm and associated linkage in the position shown by Fig. III.

In connection with the form-carrying conveyor 18, and to effectively safeguard against any possibility of back movement thereof, Wg employ a gravity influenced pawl or dog -86 conveniently hinged for vertical'swingin in a forked lug 87 on't-he inner '46, as clearly shown in Fig. III.

guide rai or dog '86 is formed with an upset tooth 88 having a chamfered face, and itis automatically disengaged from the lateral tooth his pawl portions 31, of the form-carrying conveyor 18, immediately preceding cooperation therewith by the pawl 75, as' later on more fully outlined.

Referring to Figs V and VI, we have illus- I vtrated a modified means for intermittently moving the leverarm 70, and for the sake of brevity, we will limit ourselves to an explanation of the novel features thereof, such other correlated element's shown-and'having their counterpart in the foregoing detailed description-being correspondingly designated bylike reference characters for the sake of establishing a proper-association for the said novel features. Fundamentally,

the distinction may be characterized asimparting motion to the stub shaft 71 positively, as against the employment of themul-I tiplying linkage 66, 67. To this end, we extend the counter-shaft 57, and securely fix thereon a pair of diametrically opposed wipers 89, 90, for co-action with a'camdevice 91 rigidly attached to the extended lower end of thestub shaft 71, said device comprising opposedly functional lateral portions 92, 93, for apurpose later on explained; but, it may be here stated that said wipers and cam portions co-act to impart a lateral to-and-fro swinging movement to the lever arm 70, over a substantially ninety degree arcuate course.

Assuming the drying machine as illustrated is intended as a hosiery drier, and that the form-carrying conveyor 18 is progressed 'in a clockwise direction, it will be readily seen that when motion is imparted to the counter-shaft 25, the fan 20 and drive shaft 53 will be continuously revolved through the several gears hereinbefore de-- scribed. Simultaneously, motionwill be imparted to the counter-shafts 57 by the inions 55 gears 56. Each counter-s aft 57 will, .-in turn transmit an intermittent motion to the vertical shaft 60 by cooperation of the wipers 59 and cam devices 61, as hereinbefore explained. Now, referring moreparticularly to Figs. III and IV, it will be easily understood that the form-carryingbase or shoe designated 6 has traversed the inclined tongue 49 and thereby been elevated from support by the conveyor I -18 onto the track 43- with the depending pin 35 thereon entered into the raceway 45. Further, assuming that all the instrumentalities occupy-for the sake of ease in descriptionthe respective locations illus-' trated, it will be apparent that as the vertical shaft 60 is intermittentlyrotated in a clockwise direction, the multiplying linkage 66, 67, will be projected and extended tospring influenced ward the left hand-in Fig. III-by cooperation of the roller 65 thereon with the apsiroaching tooth of the star wheel 64.

imultancous therewith the lever arm 7 will be swung about its pivot 71, thereby advancing the form-carrying shoe 34 from the position designated 6 to. an interme diate location designated 6' where it encounters an advancing arm of the spider 63, thence onward to that marked 0', by initial co-action of the extension finger 77 with the depending pin 35. The movement of the leverarm 70 just described will be accompanied by transference of the awl 7 over a lateral course of Sn stantially ninety degrees while the dog 86 is forced downwards from the notch marked 41:, by the limb 73 engaging the chamfered face of the tooth 88, wh en awl 75 will spring into said notch to e ectprogression of the conveyor 18 under recoil action of the spring 83. At the same time, it will be noted that as the shoe 34 approaches the position designated 0 the'pin 35 thereunder will have become engaged by one of the radial arms of the spider 63. The succeeding intermittent-or quarter-turn movementimparted to the shaft 60 will progress the shoe 34 over the track 43 to the position marked d, while the next succeeding ,quarter-turn of said shaft will effect traverse "of said shoe to the location marked 6. At this juncture it is well to note that an operative stationed at the position 0, and another at the station designated 6 can with ease and fa= cility, respectively, perform the operations of stripping and boarding the forms 14.

Now,it is to be particularly observed that the succeeding quarter-turn imparted to the shaft will only transfer the shoe 34 from the position e to that designated f where. it will remain until moved forwardly by the dog 81 into the enclosure 10. It is, also, to be particularly noted that the pin 35 thereunder firstly moves the dog 81inwardly in oppositionto .its buffer spring 82, on the return stroke of the lever arm under the recoil of its spring 83, whereupon said dog will be snapped at the rear thereof by 'expansion of the buffer spring 7 6. On the succeeding swing of the lever arm 70 to the right hand, it will be obvious that the linkage 66, 67 will again function as above set forth, whereupon the dog 81 will advance the shoe 34 to the end of the raceway 45, where it will glide .down the inclined tongues 48, 49 and be deposited on the. conveyor 18, ready for progression through the annular drying space 19 by means of the pawl 75, engaging each successive tooth 31,

as hereinbefore set forth.- At this point it is well to observe that each base or shoe 34 is shaped to provide an outer wall 94 conforming with the inner arcuate curvature of the outer guide rail 46, and a reversely curved wall 95 of a radius to ride freely around the inner wall of the track 43, wherequarter-turnfor example-to the shaft 71 and armed lever 70 to the right handas viewed in Fig. V. Incident to the right hand swing of the lever arm 70, the cam arm 93 is turned into the path of the wiper 90, which, as the shaft 57 continues torevolve, by engaging the arm 93, evolves a reversal of the lever arm 70. Further detailed explanation of this modification is deemed unnecessary, as anyone in the least acquainted with the art will clearly appreciate the positive to-and-fro swinging action imparted to the lever arm 70, by the wiper and cam device above described.

Obviously the-progressive course of the several clothed forms 14 through the annular drying space 19 will be readily understood without further explanation, while it will be equally apparent that each consecutive form 14 is subjected to the'movements above described'at the stations designated a-- a', intermediate egress and ingress with respect to the enclosure 10, However, it may be here remarked, that each form and associated shoe 34, is detached, and by virtue of the peculiar configuration given the said shoes we are enabled to compact the forms 14 in radially disposed close relation during progression through the drying space 19 whereby the capacity of the machine is greatly increased. Furthermore we desire to particularly stress the manner in which the successive forms 14 are separated from compact relation immediately .upon entering the tracks 43 and positioned for stripping, thereafter traversing a semi-circuitous course by co-equal stages; and returned into the drying enclosure by a two step. increment travel. These features of the invention are deemed of prime importance, in that it affords proper spacing of the forms 14' whereby the operations above referred to, while closely associated, can be carried out efiicient- 1y. Incident to the compact radial assembly of the forms 14 while progressed through the space 19, it will be understood that the fresh hot air circulatingupwardly through the cylindrical conduit 15, and downwardly through said annular space 19 will bein a measurechoked aboutthe article-carrying forms 14where most essential-and thereby enhance the general efliciency of our machine, while the moisture-laden air drawn through the interspaces between the massed -metrically opposed station a'.

shoes 34. is difl'used with a relatively increased velocity against. the banks of heat coils 28.

"lo the machine shown and described is of a compound character in that provision is made for two stations a-e a" whereat the dual 0 erations of strip ing and .r'eclothing t e forms 14;. are e ected, it is to be explicitly understood'that such disclosure is by way of example only, as it .is quite within the scope of our invention to provide a drying machine whereat the operation of stripping may be accomplished at one station a and the operation of boarding or reclothing the forms 14 efiectedat :1 dia- Still further it is our intention to construct small machines having only one station a whereat both operations of stripping and boarding are eliected. Furthermore attention is directed to the spring influenced extension finger77 as accommodatin wlthout further elaboration; and although:

we have somewhat minutely outlined one practical embodiment thereof, it is to be un-' derstood we arenot limited thereby, further than as indicated by the subjoined claims.

claim: 1. In a drying machine including an enclosure and means conveying forms therethrough in massed relation, coordinated means functional to withdraw and exteriorly separate consecutive forms, spa cedly progress said forms, and return the same into the enclosure;

2. Ina drying machine including an enclosure and means conveying detached forms therethrough in close radial relation, co.- ordinated means functional -to withdraw and exteriorly separate consecutive forms, spacedly progress said forms, and return the same by similar stages into the enclosure.

3. In a drying machine including'an enclosure and means conveying forms therethrough in close radial relation, coordinated means functional to withdraw and progress consecutively separated forms for stripping, and reclothing, and to return said forms by similar movements into the enclosure.

' 4. In a drying machine including an enclosure and means conveying forms thereaving thus described-our invention, we"

through-in massed radial relation, coordinated means functional to withdraw and ad- 5. In a drying machine including an enclosure and .meansconveying forms therethrough in massed radial relation, coordinatcd means functional towithdraw and advance consecutively separated forms for stripping and reclothing, the withdrawing means also serving to returnthe forms by similar stages into close radial relation within the enclosure;

6. In a drying machine including a planetary conveyor and series of closely massed drying forms pro essed thereby, means for withdrawing and advancing consecutive forms to widely separated relation, and means operative during such advancement to intermittently progress the planetary conveyor. 4 v

7 In a drying machine including a planetary conveyor and series of article-carrying forms progressed thereby, means for concurrently withdrawing and advancing consecutive forms in separated relation and to intermittently progress the planetary conveyor.

" 8. In a drying machine including a planetary' conveyor and series of article-carrying forms progressed thereby, means for withdrawing and advancing consecutive dorms 1n separated relation, and meansv efiectlve as a result of. such advancement to interinittently progress the'planetary conveyor,'the withdrawing means also functioni'n turn op osedly related forms into t e drying mac ine.

9. In a drying machine including a planetary conveyor and series of article-carrying forms progressed. thereby, means for w1thto 're-.

drawing and advancing consecutive forms,

in separated relation, and means efi'ectiye as a result of such withdrawal to intermittentlyprogress the planetary conveyor, the withdrawing means alsofun'ctiomng to consecutively return said forms into the d ing machine with a dwell interval after rec oth- IO. In a drying machine including an enclosure and means conveying form carriers therethrough in close radial relation, means common to effect withdrawal of consecutive forms to widely separated relation for stripping and to return the same after reclot-hing within the encl0sure,'and coordinated means efiectiveto progress said forms by co-equal movements intermediate the stripping and clothing locations.

11. In a drying machine including an enclosure 'and means conveying form carriers therethrough in close radial relation, means common to eiiect withdrawal of consecutive forms to widely separated relation for stripping and to return the same after reclothing within the enclosure, and coordinated means effective to progress said forms by co-equal stages intermediate the stripping and cloth ing positions, said last mentioned progressive movements being comparatively less than the former.

' 12. In a drying machine including an enclosure and a planetary conveyor for progressing form'carriers therethrough in close closure, said lever arm having a spring influenced finger at the form withdrawing end and a plunger dog at the form returning end for the purposes specified.

14. In a drying machine including an enclosure and aradially notched planetary conveyor for progressing form carriers therethrough in close radial relation, the combination of a lever. arm, a multiplying linkage for oscillating said arm, intermittently actuated cam devices for effecting withdrawal and return of the form carriers relative to the enclosure, said lever arm having a spring influenced finger at its form withdrawing end and a plunger dog at the form returning end, and an obliquely disposed spring influenced pawl carried by the lever arm for engaging in the radial notches aforesaid to intermittently progress the conveyor.

15. In a drying machine including an enclosure and a planetary conveyor for pro gressing detached form carriers there- .through in close' radial relation, means functional to withdraw and progress consecutively separated forms for strippingand reclothing, and to return said forms by similar movements into the enclosure, said means affording a dwell period for successive reclothed forms in advance of their return into the enclosure.

16. In a drying machine including an enclosure and a-pllanetary conveyor for promeans functional to withdraw and progress consecutively separated forms, and to return said forms by similar movements into the enclosure, means affording a dwell period for the reclothed forms in advance of their return into the enclosure, and means embracing a four armed cam device and cooperative wiper for intermittently actuating. the coordinated means.

17. In a drying machine including an enclosure and means conveying detached form carriers therethrough in close radial relation, the combination of a form carrier comprising a base supported on anti-friction rollers and having reversely curved longitudinal walls to effect progressive guidance exterior to the enclosure.

18. In a drying machine including an enclosure and means conveying detached form carriers therethrough in close radial relation,

the combination of a form carrier comprising a base supported on anti-friction rollers and having reversely curved longitudinal I walls to effect progressive guidance exterior to the enclosure, and a radially armed intermittently moved spider for progressing said form carriers from stripping to reclothing location. I

19. In a drying machine including an enclosure and means for progressing detached form carriers therethrough in close radial,

relation, the combination of an exteriorly located track for the form carriers of substantially U-shaped configuration affording form carriers therethrough in close radial relation, the combination of an exteriorly located track for the form carriers of substantially U-shaped configuration affording location for the operations of stripp' g and reclothing, said track having incliiied entry and exit ends to effect transference of the form carriers from the progressing means, and vice v a, return-thereto.

21. In a drying machine including a planetary conveyor and series of radially massed drying forms progressed thereby, opposed means for withdrawing and advancing successive forms in separated relation, and means operative during such advancement to intermittently progress the planetary conveyor. 1-

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names at Philadelphia lennsylvania, this 23rd dayof April, 1924.

HOWARD MORSHEAD.

HARRY H, WIGGLESWORTH Inn 

